1 yr. ago • 82%

Question regarding spell levels...

Would there be a reason to cast a higher level version of a spell if there is no difference between it and it’s lower level version?

For instance:

Speak With Animals II seems to be the same as Speak With Animals I. There are other examples with other spells, but is there a reason to cast the different versions? Cost seems the same, effect seems the same…

7 comments

Yes: If you're out of spell slots at the base level, but have higher level spell slots remaining.

It's also possible that upcasting makes your spell more resistant to an enemy's Counterspell, depending on how Larian implemented the mechanics. I believe this would follow 5e RAW, but I haven't tested it in this game.

Edit: Rephrased for clarity.

20
- Yes, upcasted Counterspell is functioning in game. If you really want to stop a spell cast with the highest spell slot.
  
  5
  
  I'm not talking about upcasting Counterspell, but upcasting some other spell to make it less likely for a Counterspell against it to succeed.
  
  2
- I thought RAW couunterspell ignores if a spell has been upcasted. I remember something about it only taking the original spell level.
  
  2
  
  The Player's Handbook says this:
  
  When a spellcaster casts a spell using a slot that is of a higher level than the spell, the spell assumes the higher level for that casting.
  
  Counterspell's description says nothing to override this.
  
  4
Some scale and some don't. At least on the PC version it tells you if there is any benefit to casting with a higher spell slot.

7
Shield is the best and most common answer to this situation as it only ever adds 5 to AC, but if that 5 AC is the difference between your character going down then it's worth a 2nd or even 3rd lvl slot for an additional cast.

4
Because you've already expended your spell slots for that level.

3
No, if there’s no stated difference for upcasting then there’s no reason to do so

1

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